Editing Death Row Records (section)

===1996–2001: Tupac Shakur's murder, Suge Knight's incarceration, and decline===
{{main|Murder of Tupac Shakur}}
Formerly a united front of artists, Death Row's roster fractured into separate camps. Daz, now head producer, worked on Snoop Dogg's second album ''[[Tha Doggfather]]'', which featured [[Bad Azz (rapper)|Bad Azz]] and Techniec of the [[LBC Crew]], [[Warren G]] and [[Nate Dogg]] of his group [[213 (group)|213]] and Tha Dogg Pound. 2Pac shut himself into the studio with Hurt-M-Badd and Big "D", crafting ''[[The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory]]'' - unlike ''All Eyez on Me'', it was devoid of high-profile Death Row guest appearances, instead showcasing [[The Outlawz]] and Bad Azz, and had a much darker tone. Suge Knight was now barely reachable by his staff, and employees were assaulted as punishment for not following orders.<ref name="Rollin' With Dre 2008"/>

In New York City for the [[1996 MTV Video Music Awards|MTV Video Music Awards]], 2Pac was interviewed on '''Death Row East''', an East Coast subsidiary branch of Death Row.<ref>{{Cite web |last=C.H |title=Nas and Jungle discuss Tupac run-in and Death Row East |url=https://www.revolt.tv/article/2021-08-28/99738/nas-and-jungle-discuss-tupac-run-in-and-death-row-east |access-date=2024-06-11 |website=REVOLT}}</ref> It was also during this time that Alex Roberts and David Kenner had been seen at Suge Knight's Vegas Club 662, in discussion about the possibility of having Roberts' New York underworld connections help pave the way for Death Row East. The record label was supposed to be run by [[Eric B.]] and Big D with [[Craig Mack]] being the first artist signed to the label. On September 7, 1996, Suge Knight and 2Pac were caught on surveillance camera at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas attacking gang member [[Orlando Anderson]], who was a member of the South Side [[Compton, California|Compton]] Crips street gang. Later that night, 2Pac was shot four times in a [[drive-by shooting]] in the front seat of Suge Knight's [[BMW 750iL]] waiting at a red [[traffic light]] at [[crossroads (junction)|crossroads]]; en route to Knight's Las Vegas Club 662;<ref name="Philips: Who killed Tupac Shakur">{{cite news|last=Philips|first=Chuck|title=Who Killed Tupac Shakur?|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-sep-06-fi-tupac6-story.html|access-date=July 15, 2012|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=September 6, 2002|archive-date=November 9, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109234606/http://articles.latimes.com/2002/sep/06/business/fi-tupac6|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Philips|first=Chuck|title=How Vegas police probe floundered in Tupac Shakur case|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-fi-tupac7sep07,0,6002100.story|access-date=October 8, 2013|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=September 7, 2002|archive-date=March 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130318222341/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-fi-tupac7sep07%2C0%2C6002100.story|url-status=live}}</ref> despite living six days in critical condition, 2Pac died on September 13, 1996. He was 25 years old.

2Pac's "[[The Don Killuminati: 7 Day Theory]]" was released in November 1996, just one week before Snoop Dogg's "[[Tha Doggfather]]", which both achieved [[RIAA certification|Multi-Platinum]] sales. The following months, Death Row released ''[[Death Row Greatest Hits]]'', ''[[Christmas on Death Row]]'', ''[[Gridlock'd (soundtrack)|Gridlock'd]]'', and ''[[Gang Related (soundtrack)|Gang Related]]''. [[Nate Dogg]]'s album, ''[[G-Funk Classics, Vol. 1 & 2|G-Funk Classics, Vol. 1]]'' was supposed to be released on January 14, 1997, but got shelved due to issues at Death Row Records, despite getting released independently as a double disc the following year.

On February 28, Suge Knight was convicted of probation violation and sentenced to nine years in prison,<ref name="Mogul">{{cite web|last1=Abrahamson|first1=Alan|last2=Philips|first2=Chuck|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-03-01-me-33733-story.html|title=Rap Mogul 'Suge' Knight Sent to Prison for 9 Years|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=March 1, 1997|access-date=November 27, 2019|archive-date=November 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191128064700/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-03-01-me-33733-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> causing [[Interscope Records|Interscope]] to drop their distribution deal with the label.<ref>[http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Interscope-Music-Group-Company-History.html Interscope Music Group – Company History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210184316/http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Interscope-Music-Group-Company-History.html |date=February 10, 2009 }}. In 1996, Alex Roberts was arrested at his home in Malibu and released on a $1,000,000 bond pending further investigation under a grand jury indictment involving organized crime ties including money laundering, extortion and racketeering charges. Fighting his case for 4 1/2 years out on bail he was finally taken into custody November 19, 2001 in [[Los Angeles, California]] Superior Court and sentenced to state and federal charges amounting to five years of prison time. His refusal to cooperate with federal authorities also lead to any reduced sentence including his deportation to Europe even though he had been raised in the [[United States of America|USA]] since birth, holding [[dual citizenship]]. Fundinguniverse.com. Retrieved on July 11, 2011.</ref>

Suge Knight's control over the label diminished, as [[Nate Dogg]] was able to leave, followed by Snoop Dogg and Kurupt. [[The Lady of Rage]] left after the release of her solo album [[Necessary Roughness (album)|Necessary Roughness]] to pursue an acting career, so did [[Michel'le]] with [[Hung Jury (album)|Hung Jury]]. Daz Dillinger departed in 1999 after the release of his debut album [[Retaliation, Revenge and Get Back]], but produced for Big C-Style, and he later formed [[D.P.G. Recordz]]. During Knight's incarceration, Death Row released ''[[Suge Knight Represents: Chronic 2000]]'' and ''[[Too Gangsta for Radio]]'', which both received negative reviews. Both albums had the label's new signees, [[Tha Realest]] and [[YGD Tha Top Dogg]], who were criticized for imitating the styles, looks, and vocals of 2Pac and Snoop Dogg. Also, ''[[Dead Man Walkin' (Snoop Dogg album)|Dead Man Walkin']]'', a Snoop Dogg compilation of unreleased recordings, was released without his authorization.